The St. Petersburg Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia is investigating a probe launched upon instruction of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia into reported in mass media information about swindling against socially unprotected citizens under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of Russia. As reported earlier, Alexander Bastrykin instructed the direction of St. Petersburg Main Investigative Department to check mass media information about swindling activities committed by workers of law companies against pensioners.

On May 24, 2021 investigators of the St. Petersburg Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia and Tambov Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia in interaction with forensic specialists and officers of Tambov Regional and St. Petersburg Departments of the Russian Interior Ministry carried out a number of searches in St. Petersburg and Tambov and detained 8 suspects.

According to investigation, in 2020-2021 in St. Petersburg the suspects conspired in order to steal money from socially unprotected citizens whom they misled about the existing possibility of increasing pensions, social benefits and other subsidies. In order to give the appearance of the legality to the performed actions taken, the perpetrators concluded agreements with the victims for various sums of money, that were subsequently stolen. The suspects also stole money from a resident of besieged Leningrad, promising him help in receiving a non-existent benefit in a form of a suburban land plot. To date 20 victims have been established with a total of approximately 1 million rubles stolen from them.

The preventive measure for the suspects and charges against them are being decided upon. Investigators are carrying out measures to establish other persons to be prosecuted. Information on a number of similar offenses allegedly committed by the accomplices is under verification.

The criminal investigation is ongoing.